Package clothes chute construction



May 10, E955 E. F. KLUEGEL ET AL PACKAGE CLOTHES CHUTE CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5. 1949 3 rwem tm ill I! I'll III:

w 5 m Km 0 F H. Y m e 0 United States Patent PACKAGE CLOTHES CHUTECONSTRUCTION Ernest F. Kluegel and Joseph E. Kluegel, St. PaulyMinn.Application October 5, 1949, Serial No. 119,615

Claims. (Cl. 193-34) The present invention relates to an improvement inpackage clothes chutes wherein it is desired to provide a prefabricatedclothes chute which may be built into a house or apartment during theformation thereof.

Most homes and many apartments are provided with clothes chutes throughwhich soiled clothing may be inserted to drop to a laundry located on alower floor. Most of these clothes chutes are custom built to fit theindividual installation. While the building is being constructed-thebuilder engages a sheet metal worker to build a chute of proper size andlength to fit the installation.

The present invention resides in the provision of a clothes chute whichmay be sold as a complete unit and purchased in sections so that thelength of the chute may be varied. The chute is designed to fit betweena pair of wall forming studs before the wall is completed. The verticalportion of the chute is contained entirely between the studs so that itwill not interfere with the wall construction. A sleeve is provided atthe top of the chute exending laterally from the upper section of thechute. This sleeve is supported to project outwardly from the remainderof the chute beyond the stud between which the chute is mounted. As aresult this sleeve may extend substantially to the surface of thefinished wall after plaster or a suitable wall board has been appliedthereto.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a chutewhich is formed in sections and thus may be variable in length. Theupper section of the chute includes the laterally projecting sleeve andthe mounting for the chute door. The remaining chute sections may besimilar in form and may extend downwardly from the top section to thedesired extent. As a result the chutes and sections may be similarlyconstructed and accordingly may be produced in quantities at aconsiderable saving in price.

A feature of the present invention lies in the manner in which the chuteis supported. The upper section of the chute containing the door sleeveis detachably connected to an angular cross member of sufficient lengthto cross the studs between which the chute is mounted. This cross memberinterlocks with the chute and acts as a support therefor. A second crossmember extends between the spaced studs along the upper portion of thechute top section to hold the top of this section from outward movement.This cross member is also connected to the studs. The lower chutesections may be suspended directly from the uppermost chute and arearranged in interlocking relation thereto.

- An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of apreformed chute having a laterally projecting sleeve and in providing adoor having a marginal frame including a sleeve which is of proper sizeto telescope into the forwardly projecting sleeve of the upper chutesection. The door frame is secured to the upper chute section when inproper position with the door frame engaging against the outer surfaceof the wall.

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present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in thefollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification? Figure 1 is a crosssectional view through a wall adjacent to the chute showing the generalarrangement of the parts.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the upper chute sectionsupported between a pair of studs before the wall surface has beenapplied.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the upper chute section.

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the door section.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the door section;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the assembled chute, the sectionbeing taken on a vertical plane through the chute.

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the chute the section beingtaken on a horizontal plane.

The chute A is designed to be mounted between a pair of verticallyextending partition forming studs 10. The body of the chute is withinthe wall, lying between the opposite surfaces thereof as indicated inFigure 1 of the drawings. In Figure 1 the studs 10 are shown as having afoundation material 11 secured to the studs for supporting a surfacematerial 12 thereupon. The mounting material 11 may be in the form oflaths or the like and the surface material may be plaster or similarmaterial. Similarly the wall may be surfaced with composite board, wallboard, or other materials. The opposite surfaces of the studs 10 arelikewise covered by a foundation material 13 and a surfacing material14. The material 14 is usually plaster or plaster board but may be othersuitable material.

The chute A includes an upper chute section 15, a door section 16 andone or more lengths of chute such as 17. The lengths of chute 17 areusually similar in form and come in standard lengths so that a chute ofthedesired length may be built up from a series of shorter lengths;

The upper chute section is formed as best illustrated in Figures 2, 3,6, and 7 of the drawings. This upper section 15 includes a back panel19, a pair-of parallel side panels 20 and 21, and a front panel formedof several individual parts. The lowerportion'of-the front panel isindicated at 22. The upper portion of the front panel is indicated bythe numeral 23. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the front panelalso includes side strips 24 and 25 which are connected to thefrontpanel portions 22 and 23 by rivets 26 and 27, respectively.

As illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings the rearpanel 19 is bentalong vertical corners 29 and 30 to form the side wall panels 20 and 21.These side walls 20 and 21 are provided at their forward edges withoutturned-flanges 31 and 32. The side strips 24 and 25 forming a part ofthe front panel are bent to provide inturned flanges 33 and 34 whichenclose the out-turned flanges 32 and 31. Thus the strips 24 and 25 arefirmly connected to the side wall 20 and 21.

The front panel strips 24 and 25 are provided with forwardly extendingparallel flanges 35 and 36 which extend forwardly and are then foldedrearwardly to form a reinforcing flange. The flange 35 is provided witha reinforcing flange 37 while the flange 36 is provided with an integralreinforcing flange 39. This structure presents a forwardly extendingflange which has a rounded edge at its outermost extremity.

The front panel portion 22 is provided along its upper edge with aforwardly projecting flange 40. This flange 40 is bent to provide aspaced flange41 parallel to the flange 40. The flange 40 is co-extensivewith the forwardly projeeting flanges and 36 so as to form three sidesof a forwardly projecting sleeve.

The fourth side of the forwardly projecting sleeve is formed by thetoppanel. 42. This top panel projects forwardly to the plane of the foldededges of the flanges 35, 36 and 40 and is bent rearwardly to provide aflange 43 in spaced parallel relation to the top panel 42. The flange 30is bent over the forwardly extending flange 44 on the lower edge of thefront panel portion 23.

The top panel 42 is provided with down-turned marginal edges 45extending along three sides thereof. The upper ends of the rear wall 19and of the side walls 26 and 21 are oif-set inwardly to some extent asindicated at 46. The upper extremities 9f these walls are bent uponthemselves to form a downwardly extending reinforcing flange .46 whichterminates in an, upwardly extending flange 47 enclosing the down-turnedflange 45 of the top panel. The end of the flange 47 may be bent overthe top panel 42 as indicated at 49. The rear panel and sidewall panelsare similarly connected to the top panel so as to provide a smooth innersurface in the upper chute section.

The rectangularly arranged forwardly projecting sleeve on the upperchute section is indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the exposedportions of the flanges being indicated at 37, 39, 41, and 43. ingflange is of proper length to extend substantially through the wallincluding the foundation material 13 and the surfacing material 14. Inusual form the plaster surface 14 extends directly up to the forwardlyprojecting sleeve so as to leave exposed only the rectangular openingwith a metallic lining.

The upper chute section 15 is connected to the studs 10 as bestillustrated in Figures 2 and 6 of the drawings. An angle strip 50 iscomposed .of two right angularly extendinghflanges 51 and 52. The flange51 rests flush against the outer surfaces of the studs 10 and is securedthereto by nails or screws 53. The horizontally extending flange 54 ofthe angle strip 50 extends between the forwardly extending flange 40 andits spaced reinforcing flange 41. Thus the angle strip 50 holds theupper chute section from movement in any direction.

A transversely extending channel strip 55 also assists in holding thechute to the studs 10. The chute 55 ex tends forwardly of the frontpanel member 23 and has a vertical flange 56 which lies forwardly of themember 23 and a connected shorter parallel flange 57 which extendsrearwardly of the panel forming member 23. In other words, the channelstrip 56 encloses the upper edge of the panel forming member, 23 andprevents the chute from moving forwardly or rearwardly "at its upperend. Nails or screws 59 form a means of attaching the channel strip 55to the studs 10.

The rear panel 19, the side wall panels 20 and 21, and the front panelmember 22 are rectangularly arranged at their lower edges. inwardly asindicated in Figure 6 of the drawings at 60. All of the walls aresimilarly constructed, but only the front and back walls are shown insection. As shown in Figure 6 the lower end of the rear wall 19 is bentupwardly upon itself as indicated at 61 and is provided with anoutwardly and downwardly inclined flange 62 which terminates in anupwardly directed hook flange 63. Similarly the front wall 22 is foldedat its lower end to provide an upwardly extending flange 64 which isbent at 65 to provide a downwardly and outwardly inclined flange 66which terminates in an upwardly directed hook flange 67.

The upper end of each chute section 17 is rectangular in shape and is ofproper dimensions to fit outwardly of the up-turned flanges attached tothe lower edges of the top section 15 and inwardly of the upwardlydirected hook flanges. In other words rear and front walls 69 and 70 ofthe chute section 17 extend outwardly of the flanges 61 and 64respectively and inwardly of the hook flanges 63 and 67 respectively.The side walls 71 of the chute This forwardly project- 1 Each of thesewall panels is off-set ell) ' tween the hook flange 63 and thedownwardly and outwardly inclined flange 62. A similar finger 72 isengaged between the hook flange 67 and the downwardly and outwardlyinclined flange 66. As the chute section 17 is inserted upwardly intotelescoping relation with the chute '1 section 15, the fingers 72 flexinwardly slightly and the flanges 62 and 66 flex outwardly to someextent until the fingers 62 are above the level of the hook flanges. Adownward force upon the chute section 17 will then cause engagementbetween the fingers 72 and the various hook flanges to hold the partsassembled.

Numerous chute sections 17 may be provided below the top section 15.Each chute section 17 is formed at one end with fingers such as 72projecting outwardly therefrom. At the other end of each chute sectionwe provide a structure similar to that at the lower end of the uppersection 15. In other words, the joint illustrated at the lower end ofFigure 6 is duplicated between each adjoining pair of chute sections 17.

The structure thus described is anchored to the spaced partition formingstuds and the wall surfacing material is applied as indicated in Figurelof the drawings. A projecting sleeve lines the aperture in the wall andextends at least flush with the wall surface. The door section 16 isnext applied as indicated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The door section 16 includes a generally rectangular frame 74 of metalor other suitable material. The frame 74 is provided with a centralaperture 75 which is encircled by an off-set 76 designed to extendtoward the top chute section 15. The frame 74 is connected with amarginal flange 77 by means of an off-set 79. The flange 77 is designedto engage against the outer surface of the wall surfacing material 14and the off-set 79 may accommodate for varying thicknesses of Walls.

A rectangular door 80 is provided with a marginal strengthening flange85. The door 80 is of somewhat larger outside dimensions than theopening 75 and is dcsigned to rest against the rear surface of the doorframe 74 adjacent to the aperture 75. As indicated in Figures 5 and 6, apair of ears 86 are struck from the door panel 80 near its upperextremity and are bent into parallel relation at right angles to thedoor panel 80. A rectangular frame 87 is provided with a right angularflange 89 weldcd or otherwise secured to the rear surface of the frame74. A pair of cars 90 are struck downwardly from the upper end of therectangular frame 87 to lie in parallel relationship outwardly of thecars 86. A pivot shaft 91 extends through the cars 90 and through theears 86 to pivot ally attach the door to the frame 74. A spring 92encircles the pivot 91 and urges the door panel 80 against the frame 74.

It will be noted that the rectangular frame 87 of the door unit 16 is ofslightly smaller dimensions than the forwardly projecting flange of theupper chute section 15. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings,this rectangular frame 87 is inserted into the forwardly projectingrectangular frame on th upper chute section and remains in telescopingrelation thereto. A series of spaced apertures 93 are provided in therectangular frame 87 and are designed to accommodate metal screws whichmay cxtendin to the frame on the upper section 15. Thus once the doorsection is telcscoped into the upper chute section it may be fastened inplace by suitable metal screws or the like.

As walls areusually formed'with partitionstuds formed of two by fours,and as these studs are usually placed at least a minimum distance apart,it is possible to construct a clothes chute which may be used in almostany house or building. Similarly it is possible to provide a clotheschute including a top section, a pair of strips for supporting the topsection to the studs, a door section for one or more chute sections ofsimilar construction depending from the top section. The chutes may beproduced in volume, thereby considerably reducing the normal cost ofproduction of such an item. In ordering a chute it is only necessary tospecify the number of lengths of chute which are required to produce aclothes chute of proper length in order to purchase a chute ready forinstallation. This arrangement is highly advantageous over the usualmethod of building a chute to fit each individual installation andpermits the chute to be installed at lower cost and with lessdifliculty.

In accordance with the patent statutes, we have described the principlesof construction and operation of our clothes chute construction, andwhile we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, wedesire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within thescope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of ourinvention.

We claim:

1. A clothes chute section comprising top, back, side and front panels,said top panel projecting forwardly beyond the general plane of saidfront panel to form a sleeve portion, said side panels each having anoutturned flange, a side strip reversely folded about each outturnedflange and having flanges projecting forwardly to form second and thirdsleeve portions, said front panel terminating at a spaced locationbeneath said top panel and provided with a forwardly projecting flangeto form a fourth sleeve portion, said sleeve portions all cooperating toform a complete sleeve designed to extend through the wall of thebuilding in which said chute section is to be installed, and a doorsection telescopically received in said complete sleeve.

2. A clothes chute section including top and front panels, an anglemember having horizontal and vertical flanges, a margin of said toppanel being reversely folded about said horizontal flange, a transversestrip member of greater length than the width of said top panel to formlaterally extending anchoring means for the chute section,

a portion of said strip element being reversely folded about the upperedge of said vertical flange, a second angle member having vertical andhorizontal flanges, said vertical flange being of a greater length thanthe Width of said front panel to form additional anchoring means for thechute section, the upper margin of said front panel being reverselyfolded about the horizontal flange of said second angle member.

3. A clothes chute including an upper chute section having rectangularlyarranged wall panels and a top panel, a rectangular sleeve extendingforwardly from one of said wall panels, an angular supporting memberextending transversely of said sleeve beneath the same, interlockingmeans on said chute section embracing portions of said supporting memberand holding the same from relative movement other than longitudinally ofsaid supporting member, and a second supporting member extendingtransversely across said section above said sleeve.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and in which the second supportingmember and said chute section include interlocking portions capable ofholding said section from forward or rearward movement relative to saidsecond supporting member.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 and including an upwardly extendingflange on said chute section, and in which the second supporting memberis folded to enclose a portion of said upwardly extending flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS177,729 Loring May 23, 1876 1,036,662 Triggs Aug. 13, 1912 1,071,535Townshend Aug. 26, 1913 1,413,843 Finstad Apr. 25, 1922 1,536,642 WallMay 5, 1925 1,789,123 Triggs Jan. 13, 1931 1,877,234 Gallagher Sept. 13,1932 1,968,007 Willey July 24, 1934 2,299,896 Harper Oct. 27, 19422,491,700 Zwerling Dec. 20, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Montgomery-WardCatalogue, Fall-Winter, 1946-47 (page 934 relied on).

